Rescue axe

ABSTRACT

A combination tool for use by wreckers, firemen, and other rescue workers in cutting through sheet metal structures, such as wrecked automobiles, to make an opening through which trapped persons can escape. The tool comprises an elongated handle having a pointed axe blade and sledge hammer head at one end, together with metal-gripping means whereby the blade can be driven into sheet metal and then worked with a lever action in the manner of a can opener, to cut an opening in the sheet metal. The sledge hammer head lends mass to the axe blade, and also provides means for breaking solid obstacles, or for driving stakes. At the other end of the handle is a pry bar.

United States Patent 2 [72] Inventor Jerry War-dwell 40106 Lynnwood, l-lemet, Calif. 92343 [21] Appl. No. 789,784 [22] Filed Jan. 8, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [54] RESCUE AXE 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI 7/8.l [51] Int. CL... 1325f 1/00 [50] FieldofSeai-ch 7/11,8.1, 12, 17; 145/2; 30/22, 277, 314, 315

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 111,024 1/1871 White 7/17 1,012,601 12/1911 Compton 7/17 X 1,643,86] 9/1927 Szakacs Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker, Jr. Attorney-Herbert E. Kidder ABSTRACT: A combination tool for use by Wreckers,

firemen, and other rescue workers in cutting through sheet metal structures, such as wrecked automobiles, to make an, opening through which trapped persons can escape. The tool comprises an elongated handle having a pointed axe blade and sledge hammer head at one end,'together with metal-gripping means whereby the blade can be driven into sheet metal and then worked with a lever action in the manner of a can opener, to cut an opening in the sheet metal. The sledge hammer head lends mass to the axe blade, and also provides means for breaking solid obstacles, or for driving stakes. At the other end of the handle is a pry bar.

PATENTEDSEPMISYI 3,604,02

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RESCUE AXE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Among rescue workers who are called upon to free victims from wrecked automobiles or other structures in which they are trapped, there has long been need for a special tool particularly adapted to cutting through sheet metal. For example, wreckers who are called to the scene of an automobile accident to free persons trapped inside a wrecked vehicle, often find that the only way to get the victims out is to cut an opening through the roof or one side of the body of the car. In many cases, the roof and/or sides of the automobile body may be caved in to such an extent that the doors cannot be opened. Sometimes, the body is caved in to the extent that the trapped victims have little room inside the wreckage, and therefore the utmost care must be exercised to avoid further caving in of the body while making the rescue.

Heretofore, Wreckers and other rescue workers have relied primarily on conventional wood-cutting axes 'or fire axes to cut through sheet metal. However, such axes have certain serious disadvantages, which make them less than completely satisfactory for rescue purposes. For one thing, the cutting edge of the conventional axe blade is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and this makes penetration of sheet metal hard unless the blade can be swung so that its outer corner hits the sheet metal first. This sometimes difficult to do because of lack of clear space to take a good swing. Consequently, much of the time the blade will hit the sheet metal more-or-less squarely, causing the metal to collapse under the impact. Victims trapped under the sheet metal may be injured by the collapsing metal. Also, there is a tendency for the blade to slip, or glance off the sheet metal if the direction of impact is at an angle to the surface, and this may produce sparks, which could ignite the vapor from spilled gasoline, causing a disastrous fire. Another disadvantage of cutting through sheet metal with a conventional axe is that each blow of the axe produces a cut of the same length as the cutting edge of the blade, and it is necessary to make a series of accurately placed cuts in line with and connecting one another, in order to cut an opening through which the trapped victims may be extricated. However, the location or position of the wreck may make it difficult to place a series of axe cuts with the necessary accuracy.

In addition to cutting through sheet metal, it is often neces sary to break through solid obstacles, or to bend structural steel members out of the way, in which case a sledge hammer is better suited to the job than an axe. At other times, it may be necessary to pry certain parts out of the way, and a pry bar, or crowbar, is the preferred tool in that case. However, it is sometimes out of the question for a worker to carry all three tools (i.e., axe, sledge hammer, and crowbar) on some rescue jobs, and there are undoubtedly many cases where a rescue worker has found himself seriously handicapped by not having the right tool at the right time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to provide a rescue axe designed to cut through sheet metal with a minimum of efiort on the part of the user, without causing the sheet metal to cave in from the impact, and without striking sparks. This object is achieved by a unique configuration of axe blade, which provides a sharp point to penetrate the sheet metal cleanly and easily with a relatively light swing, and which can then be worked with a lever action to cut through the sheet metal in the manner of a can opener. In order to facilitate this can-opener" action, the axe is provided with sharp spurs on its outer end, which bite into the surface of the sheet metal when the end of the handle is pulled up after driving the pointed axe blade into the metal. These spurs serve to keep the axe blade from slipping backwardly while the sharp cutting edge is raised and advanced through the sheet metal by further raising of the handle. After raising the handle as far as possible (or practical) the handle is lowered, and the blade pulled forwardly in the slit to a new position, where the handle is again raised to take a new cut. This process is repeated until the cut has been extended to thedesired length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rescue axe of the class described having a sharp penetrating point projecting generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and a cutting edge disposed at an angle to said axis, so that the axe head can be swung in an are more or less tangent to the surface of the sheet metal, driving the point through the metal and then shearing a long gash therein. Thus, with one wellplaced blow, the axe of the present invention is enabled to cut a slash in the sheet metal considerably larger than the length of the cutting edge of the blade, thereby reducing the number of swings required to cut an opening sufficiently large to allow a person to pass through.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rescue axe which combines, in one tool, the specific functions of a sheetmetal-cutting axe, sledge hammer, and crowbar, thereby enabling the rescuer to cut through sheet metal; to bend or break, obstacles that cannot be cut; or to drive stakes where necessary; and to pry things apart or force open jammed doors, etc. Thus with one tool, the rescuer is enabled to perform virtually all of the operations necessary to free trapped victims.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rescue axe of the class described in which means is provided for preventing the blade from penetrating too deeply into the sheet metal. The head of the axe is thereby prevented from burying itself in the sheet metal and possibly becoming entangled therein so that it can only be extricated with difficulty.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, taken with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a rescue axe embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view, showing the axe blade completely buried in a sheet metal panel such as the roof top of an automobile;

FIG. 4 is a similar view, showing the handle pulled back up, with the gripping spurs biting into the metal, and the cutting edge of the blade shearing through the sheet metal in the manner of a can opener; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the sledge hammer head at the one end of the tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates the invention in its entirety. The invention is a rescue axe comprising an elongated handle 12, preferably in the form of a round or hexagonal bar of high-tensile-strength steel, having an axe blade 14 and sledge hammer head 16 at one end thereof. At its other end bar 12 is tapered to a long flat wedge 18 for use as a pry bar. While that handle 12 may be of any length, the preferred length is about 27 or 28 inches, and the thickness of the bar is preferably about 1 inch.

The blade 14 is also made of high-tensile-strength steel, preferably about one-half inch thick, and has the rather unique configuration shown in the drawings. The blade 14 is in the general shape of a right triangle, the hypotenuse of which is curved convexly. One of the straight sides of the triangle is formed by a first edge 20 which lies substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12 at the extreme outer end of the tool. The second edge 22 of the blade is the arcuately curved hypotenuse of the triangle, and this second edge intersects the first edge 20 at a sharp point 24, which is for penetrating sheet metal. The third edge 25 of the blade forms the other straight side of the triangle, and this is the edge of the blade that is welded to the underside of handle 12. The second edge 22 is beveled to a sharp cutting edge, which faces generally back toward the other end of the handle.

The sledge hammer head 16 is more or less conventional and may be octagonal in plan form, as shown in FIG. 5. The head 16 is welded to the top side of handle 12, above the blade 14 but setback somewhat from the outer edge 20 thereof. The outer side 26 of the head 16 is located about midway between the outer edge 20 of the blade and the point where curved edge 22 meets the handle.

Projecting outwardly from the outer side 26 of the head 16 on both sides of blade 14 and substantially in the horizontal plane of the handle are two gripping spurs 28. Spurs 28 are generally wedge-shaped projections which are sharpened to about the same sharpness as a cold chisel and these preferably project for a distance of about three-eighths to three-fourths inch from the face 26. The purpose of the spurs 28 is to bite into the surface of the sheet metal when the blade has penetrated to full depth and the handle thereafter rocked back somewhat, so as to prevent the blade from sliding in the direction away from the cutting edge 22 while the handle is rocked further forwardly. This additional forward rocking of the handle causes the spurs 28 to press downwardly against the outer surface of the sheet metal, thereby biting into the metal and serving as a fulcrum while the curved edge of the blade is raised and advanced through the sheet metal, shearing the metal as it goes. In this way, the blade 14 can be made to shear through sheet metal in the same manner as a can opener, by merely working the handle up and down as a lever, moving the blade forwardly along the cut at the end of each upward pull on the lever.

In addition to its other functions, the sledge hammer head 16 also serves as a limit stop to limit the depth of penetration of the blade 14 into sheet metal. This function is accomplished by means of two shoulders 30 projecting laterally from opposite sides of the handle, which are formed by the undersides of the hammer head 16. The shoulders 30 are engageable with the sheet metal on opposite sides of a cut when the blade 14 is buried deeply in the sheet metal, and said shoulders limit the depth of penetration of the blade.

Surrounding the handle 12 from a point just short of the hammer head 16 to a point 6 inches or so from the pry-bar end 18, is a rubber sleeve 32, which provides a nonslip surface for gripping the handle, and which also cushions the users hands against vibration, besides insulating the user from electrical shock due to contact with electrical wires. In FIGS 2, 3 and 4, the axe is shown in use on a sheet metal panel 34, such as the rooftop of an automobile. FIG. 3 shows the axe as it appears when blade 14 has been driven all the way into the sheet metal. FIG. 2 shows how the shoulders 30 prevent the blade from going any deeper into the sheet metal. In FIG. 4, the free end of the handle 12 has been raised up, causing the spurs 28 to bite into the outer surface of the sheet metal. The blade 14 is not pivoting about the spurs 28 as a fulcrum, and as the blade swings upwardly, its cutting edge 22 advances through the sheet metal, shearing the metal as it goes.

The axe can also be used to chop long slashes in the sheet metal 34 by swinging the axe blade into the sheet metal along an arcuate path generally tangent to the sheet metal, as indicated by the curved arrow A in FIG. 4. In this case, the point 24 penetrates the metal along a downwardly inclined path, and shears a slash in the metal considerably longer than the cutting edge of the blade.

The invention has many advantages as a rescue axe. The

sharp penetrating point 24 is able to penetrate sheet metal cleanly and easily, with no crushing or collapsing of the metal, and with no glancing or skidding to strike sparks The mass of the sledge hammer head lends itself to the mass of the axe blade, enabling the user to strike powerful blows with the axe. The sledge hammer can also be used to break or bend obstacles that cannot be cut with the axe, or to drive anchor stakes as needed. This latter function is particularly necessary in the case of wreckers, who frequently, have the job of hauling wrecked automobiles up steep em ankments, and who therefore need to drive anchor stakes to anchor their towtruck to.

Another way in which the axe 10 can be used to good advantage is in cutting a bolt or look (as in the gate of a chain link fence, for example) where firemen must get through to a burning structure. The point 24 of the blade can be placed on the lock or bolt, and the hammer head 16 struck with another sledge hammer. The lock or bolt is easily cut through in this way...

While I have shown and described in considerable detail what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the several parts without departing from the scope of the following claims.

1. A rescue axe for use by wreckers, firemen, and other rescue workers, comprising:

an elongated handle having an axe blade at one end thereof,

said axe blade having a first edge disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle; and a second edge extending from the outer edge of said first edge to a point adjacent the handle;

said second edge facing toward the other end of said handle and being sharpened to form a cutting edge;

said first and second edges coming together at a sharp point for penetrating sheet metal and the like; and

gripping means provided on opposite sides of said blade,

said gripping means being operable to bite into the sheet metal when said blade has been driven all the way in and said handle has been rocked forwardly, thereby preventing said blade from sliding in the direction away from said cutting edge while said handle is rocked further forwardly to rotate said blade about said gripping means as a fulcrum, said cutting edge being raised and advanced through said sheet metal by said rotation, thereby causing the cutting edge to shear through the sheet metal.

2. A rescue axe as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a sledge hammer head mounted on said one end of said handle on the side opposite said blade, said sledge hammer head being set back from said first edge of said blade so that the outer face of the head is located between said first and second edges; and

said gripping means comprising spurs projecting outwardly from the outer face of said hammer head substantially in line with said handle, said spurs being operable to bite into the sheet metal when said blade has been driven all the way in and said handle has been rocked forwardly, thereby preventing said blade from sliding in the direction away from said cutting edge while said handle is rocked further forwardly to rotate said blade about said gripping spurs as a fulcrum, said cutting edge being raised and advanced through said sheet metal by said rotation, thereby causing the cutting edge to shear through the sheet metal.

3. A rescue axe as set forth in claim 2 wherein the other end of said handle is tapered to a long, flat wedge, said handle and said wedgeshaped other end forming a pry bar. 

1. A rescue axe for use by wreckers, firemen, and other rescue workers, comprising: an elongated handle having an axe blade at one end thereof, said axe blade having a first edge disposed generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle; and a second edge extending from the outer edge of said first edge to a point adjacent the handle; said second edge facing toward the other end of said handle and being sharpened to form a cutting edge; said first and second edges coming together at a sharp point for penetrating sheet metal and the like; and gripping means provided on opposite sides of said blade, said gripping means being operable to bite into the sheet metal when said blade has been driven all the way in and said handle has been rocked forwardly, thereby preventing said blade from sliding in the direction away from said cutting edge while said handle is rocked further forwardly to rotate said blade about said gripping means as a fulcrum, said cutting edge being raised and advanced through said sheet metal by said rotation, thereby causing the cutting edge to shear through the sheet metal.
 2. A rescue axe as set forth in claim 1 in which there is a sledge hammer head mounted on said one end of said handle on the side opposite said blade, said sledge hammer head being set back from said first edge of said blade so that the outer face of the head is located between said first and second edges; and said gripping means comprising spurs projecting outwardly from the outer face of said hammer head substantially in line with said handle, said spurs being operable to bite into the sheet metal when said blade has been driven all the way in and said handle has been rocked forwardly, thereby preventing said blade From sliding in the direction away from said cutting edge while said handle is rocked further forwardly to rotate said blade about said gripping spurs as a fulcrum, said cutting edge being raised and advanced through said sheet metal by said rotation, thereby causing the cutting edge to shear through the sheet metal.
 3. A rescue axe as set forth in claim 2 wherein the other end of said handle is tapered to a long, flat wedge, said handle and said wedge- shaped other end forming a pry bar. 